Candidate for
Governing Board Member; Torrance Unified School District

PERSONAL

Married 22 years to Lucy Hemingway

2 girls (ages 8 and 6) at Riviera Elementary

Resident of Torrance since 1997

EDUCATION

Master Business Administration; CSU--Long Beach; Business Administration; 1991

Bachelor of Science; CSU--Long Beach; Business, Finance & Real Estate; 1989

Associate of Technology; Oklahoma State Univ.; Air Conditioning & Refrigeration; 1980

WORK HISTORY

Self-Employed Financial Analyst, 1985-present

Associate Professor, (business, appraisal & computer applications); El Camino College, 1997-1999

Building Maintenance Technician and Supervisor, 1980-1984

VOLUNTEER SERVICE FOR TORRANCE SCHOOLS

Support For Teachers
1. Fought Hard for Class Size Reduction. One of the original founders of Torrance Parents Organization. Rallied parents to board meetings, collected money and wrote ads that were placed in the Daily Breeze. Created and distributed many fliers. Ordered, collected funds, assembled & distributed the "TORRANCE SAYS NO TO CLASS SIZE INCREASES" yard signs.

2. Petitioned the State to Restore Prop. 98 Funding. With the blessing from Dr. Fish, I led the letter-writing meetings held at Torrance High Schools. I was quoted often in the Daily Breeze and once in an Article in the LA Times about parent groups throughout the state fighting for funding equity.

3. Collaborated With Teachers to Show "Curriculum Creep" in Kindergarten. Compiled all necessary data to prove that in terms of curriculum, Kindergarten in 2005 is actually more rigorous than 1st grade curriculum was in 1996.

4. Proponent of Measure X (the Initiative to Terminate the Personnel Commission) Torrance schools maintain both a Personnel Commission for hiring non-classified workers and Human Resources for certificated (i.e. teachers). Teachers and parents agree that the PC is ineffective and hires based on seniority only. This is a task that Human Resources can do for much less. In fact, Human Resources performed this task for over 40 years without difficulty. I began the lengthy process in June, 2004 to return the $350,000 budget of the PC to the general fund where much of the money could be spent on classroom needs. Because of my efforts and others who joined me, the voters can decide on November 8th whether money is better spent on needless bureaucracy or in the classroom.

Volunteer Work--Riviera Elementary and TUSD I have volunteered over 1,000 hours at Riviera Elementary. I led 3 Super Saturday campus cleanups. I personally painted building exteriors and interiors. I pressure washed bathroom floors, building exteriors, windows, and playgrounds. I worked in teachers' classrooms and assisted the office staff. I was instrumental in getting a sidewalk installed so that children did not have to step into the street while walking to school. I installed 10 motion detector lights. I voted in site council to install security cameras and for better emergency preparedness.

I served 2 years on site council, 1 year at District Communication Council, 2 years as a docent with Adventures in Art for my daughters' classes and 1 year in a Special Education Class when no parent would volunteer, 1 year as a computer lab volunteer, 1 year as an assistant library volunteer and classroom volunteer, 1 year coordinating eScrip/SchoolPop, I assisted with craft fair, 2 field days, assisted with talent show including back stage, video taping and driving to Hollywood to obtain/return prop, assisted SPARK P.E. program coordinator and created a SPARK training DVD for new teachers.

I am knowledgeable about TUSD by independent study from district published budget information and from available websites such as CDE, ed-data, etc. To get questions answered, I emailed, phone, faxed and met with Dr. Fish, Dr. Stabler and, earlier, Kevin Condon. I have spoken with representatives throughout the state on a variety of issues from Class Size Reduction to equalization funding for low-wealth district such as Torrance. I have attended board cabinet workshops, prepared spreadsheets, and analyzed district financial statements. I have spoken and emailed with several parents from other districts throughout the state with similar budget woes. I have assembled two storage boxes full of data, resources and analysis about Torrance Schools.